Allen in limbo with foot pain

A career with the Celtics that began with spectacular fanfare is in danger of ending in a shroud of pain and uncertainty for Ray Allen. Five years after arriving in Boston six weeks ahead of Kevin Garnett in a celebrated union of three future Hall of Famers, the 36-year-old free-agent-to-be counts down the days to what could be his final playoff run in Boston.

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

Posted Apr. 24, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 24, 2012 at 4:31 PM

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

Posted Apr. 24, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 24, 2012 at 4:31 PM

WALTHAM

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A career with the Celtics that began with spectacular fanfare is in danger of ending in a shroud of pain and uncertainty for Ray Allen.

Five years after arriving in Boston six weeks ahead of Kevin Garnett in a celebrated union of three future Hall of Famers, the 36-year-old free-agent-to-be counts down the days to what could be his final playoff run in Boston. All the while, he deals with swelling in the same area that was injured when he was acquired from Seattle in a draft-day trade with Seattle in 2007.

Then it was bone spur surgery in both feet that cut his 2006-07 season short and paved the way for the SuperSonics to rebuild and move the franchise to Oklahoma City. Now it’s a right ankle that has swelled up without warning at least three times and could keep him out when the playoffs begin this weekend.

“When that bridge comes I’ll have to cross it,” he said of his availability for the start of the postseason. “Right now, it’s hard to say. I just have to get up in the morning and pay attention to it. then come in here and get the treatment, move around on it, and see how it is.”

Allen said there are small spurs in the ankle the size of “grains of sand,” but claimed the spurs are not as significant as the ones that necessitated surgery on both ankles in Seattle.

Allen sat out yesterday’s two-hour practice, and both he and Celtics coach Doc Rivers declared him unavailable for tonight’s game against Miami. Both held out the possibility he could suit up for the final regular season game Thursday against Milwaukee. But no one was comfortable making any predictions after so many false-positive signs in the past month.

Allen traveled to New York last Tuesday fully intent on returning to the lineup after missing 10 of the previous 15 games with ankle swelling, but was instead shut down the next three games after it again acted up on him during a pregame shootaround. He said he has spent his down time in a walking boot since, and that although he ran for the first time since New York yesterday, added he ran on a machine that limited pressure on the joint.

“In New York, I was frustrated,” Allen said. “After that, it was just to give it time and see what it does. I can’t do anything more than my body allows. I just try to live with that, and take the time to allow it to heal.”

Allen said he will see how the ankle responds to yesterday’s increased pressure, and then determine whether to undergo additional X-rays or an MRI today or tomorrow.

Rivers was more optimistic about the possible return tonight of Rajon Rondo (bruised tailbone), Mickael Pietrus (right knee swelling) and Greg Stiemsma (sore feet) even though all three sat during yesterday’s workout alongside Allen.

Page 2 of 2 - But even as the Celtics battle for home court advantage in their first-round playoff series against the Hawks, Rivers said he won’t push his players to play the next two games if they are not fully healthy for the sake of one more date on the parquet.

“If I thought our guys were banged up I would sit them,” Rivers said. “That’s not even a question for me. I am taking rest and rhythm over home court.”

The coach said Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, who both rested during Friday night’s loss in Atlanta, would play at least one of the final two games, and could play both if they are feeling good.

Rondo said the swelling in his lower back has subsided, but that he is still having occasional spasms. He said he has been trying to do extra walking to keep the back loose, but remains sore.

He did, however, say that he will be on the floor when the Celtics open the playoffs either in Boston or Atlanta sometime this weekend.

“Right now I don’t think I want to do any contact at the moment,” Rondo said. “I think I’ll be able to play (soon). I’ll be fine. It’s just that I hit the floor a lot. So I want to get it as healthy (for the playoffs) as possible because with the way I play I will hit the floor again.”

(Scott Souza can be reached at 781-398-8006 or ssouza@wickedlocal.com. Follow him at @scott_souza.)